This archive report was first published on 5 August 2020.
As COVID-19 continues to spread in Kenya, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has urged citizens to exercise caution when traveling to rural areas to visit their relatives.
Speaking on Wednesday, CS Kagwe cited two separate incidents where individuals traveled from Nairobi to their hometowns and infected their family members with the disease.
According to the CS, one individual traveled from Nairobi to Migori and infected a family of 48 people with COVID-19.
"My information regarding this particular situation is that someone came from Nairobi and went to Migori, and there started the whole thing within the family," CS Kagwe said.
Another incident involved a person who traveled to Siaya County to visit their mother but ended up transmitting the disease to the mother.
"In addition to that, we also have somebody who came from Nairobi went to Siaya to say hello to the mother. Took the disease to the mother, he then brought the mother back to Nairobi to be treated. He died, unfortunately, and the mother is still being treated," CS Kagwe explained.
CS Kagwe emphasized the importance of heeding the warning given by the Ministry of Health, citing the vulnerability of the elderly due to their declining immune system.
"The only thing we can do now is to urge those who have not please don't do so. If you were sceptical before, if you were not sure before at least now you know for a fact that people are dying," CS Kagwe added.
Published on August 5, 2020, CS Kagwe's warning serves as a reminder to Kenyans to prioritize their safety and the safety of their loved ones during this pandemic.